I've only ever started one, so I don't know as much about this as you appear to.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TseTse

These games are multimillion dollar art production projects on par with huge hollywood studio movies. Getting the concepts right (both aesthetic and design) are critical at the first stage.

First point is dead on, same time lines and budgets as a huge hollywood movie, if you are honest about the time and financing needed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TseTse

My problem with this is that it's yet another ****ing FANTASY mmo. That genre is stale.

(unless they are aiming for consoles somehow)

It's obviously your opinion, but I disagree with this and have since I've heard it. The movie industry goes the same way, peaks and valleys. I've heard it said and agree that 'Fantasy is in our DNA', everyone can associate with the Dragon, Hero, damsel in distress to some degree or another. We're past, I think, the last generation that grew up on Tolkien, but fantasy is still incredibly strong and imo will remain so.

And honestly, you get R.A. Salvatore to buy into your story, agree to flesh it out and build a world, is it not the smart decision to make a fantasy based IP? I mean the guys only built a 3 decade long, NYT best seller filled career out of creating iconic characters and worlds in the fantasy genre.

It would be like someone taking over the Red Sox next year and ordering them to put Jon Papelbon in middle relief, because he wants to or thinks he knows more than everyone else, that's just dumb business.

Oh and Todd, ya, what was that comment? Stale? Ya, another guy who basically created his own industry and career, and business, with his hands, like 3 decades ago.

Their both artists so I am sure the haters will come out in force, since art is always a personal thing, but neither of them can be called 'untalented' or 'hacks' by anyone here with an ounce of credibility (unless Stan Lee or Tolkien stops by to post).

The cooler part of it is they're as nice, if not nicer, people, than they are talented.

Oh and for anyone heading down the 'three rich dudes pissing money at a hobby' path, don't. It's a tired and invalid rant and has no merit.

Their both artists so I am sure the haters will come out in force, since art is always a personal thing, but neither of them can be called 'untalented' or 'hacks' by anyone here with an ounce of credibility (unless Stan Lee or Tolkien stops by to post).

The cooler part of it is they're as nice, if not nicer, people, than they are talented.

Wondering if you've played Warhammer Online yet, if you are going to put that much work into the lore the thing to do would be to stick to it and one with constant turmoil and no true good guys tends to be the most engaging.

Wondering if you've played Warhammer Online yet, if you are going to put that much work into the lore the thing to do would be to stick to it and one with constant turmoil and no true good guys tends to be the most engaging.

I have. Been able to get into the testing. I am hoping beyond hope it does great because I love the IP.

There was an immense amount of effort on our part, that they didn't have to go through because ours is an original IP. That being said, it's an original IP fleshed out and developed by R.A. Salvatore, which eases the pain of all the extra time/money/work we had to do, that others didn't or don't.

It's still an immense challenge, but so is pitching on one foot. It sure as hell isn't what I expected when I said "Man I am going to do that one day, build a company and make an MMO" some 10 odd years ago.

There isn't any evidence of anything other than high fantasy being what people want. City of heroes fail, Matrix online fail, Anarchy online fail, whatever that stupid futuristic one with the strippers fail. The majority wants what they can immediately recognize.

Not to say high fantasy can't fail, just a much bigger chance breaking from the norm.

I spent 23 years making stupid money and saving. I did all that and decided this would be our next ride, staking pretty much everything I'd made over that 23 years.

I sure as HELL wasn't going to make a game that I couldn't be passionate, excited and in love with from day 1 through the end. That wasn't going to happen in a western, sci-fi or some other genre, it was going to be fantasy.

Bottom line is I put my money where my mouth is, and sometime in the next 5-10 years I'll know whether I made a mistake or not.